We were in Florida during the Haitian earthquake. On that day, I actually felt a slight tremor and thought to myself, “I wonder what an earthquake feels like.” The next day I heard the news.
My chavrusa, the Talmid chacham and tzaddik Rabbi Moshe Grossman, pointed out a Rashi in that week’s Parsha, Vaeira, which cites the Prophet, “‘I have destroyed nations; their towers have been laid desolate. [I have destroyed their streets without passersby; their cities have become ruins.] … I thought you would fear Me, that you would learn a lesson.’” (Zephaniah 3:6-7)
Everything in this world is a lesson for us.
Recently I heard that the magnetic North Pole is moving. Can you imagine that? Apparently, it’s nothing new, but the movement is speeding up, and soon, according to experts, the magnetic pole will migrate westward from North America to Siberia. That “constant” by which we steer, that “totally dependable, solid point” from which we take our direction, is not at all stable!
Last week, in Parshas Beshalach, we read a striking sentence. The Children of Israel are caught in a seemingly hopeless position between the Egyptians and the Sea. What does Moshe Rabbeinu say to them? “Do not fear. Stand fast and see the salvation … that [G-d] will perform for you today…. G-d will do battle for you, and you shall remain silent.” (Shemos 14:13-14)
This, my friends, is advice for us in this shaky world.
“Stand fast and see the salvation … that G-d will perform for you today.”
My wife and I spoke recently at the Annual Presidents’ Conference of Torah Umesorah. The heads of Torah institutions from across the American continent were gathered for one purpose: their determination to “stand fast” and even flourish, despite the mighty forces which seem to be shaking the very foundations of our world. Why? Because our very essence is to fulfill our role as a “kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation!” (Shemos 19:6) We are endeavoring to fulfill the words of the Prophet, “‘My spirit that is upon you and My words that I have placed in your mouth shall not be withdrawn from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,’ said G-d, ‘from this moment and forever.’” (Isaiah 59:20-21).
In this week’s Parsha we receive the Torah. As you may know, I grew up without one atom of Torah in my life. For thirty long years I tried to run away from G-d, but I discovered that each path I tried led nowhere! Along the way, I met my wife, and since then our journey has been taken together. When every other path had failed, when there was NO OTHER PLACE TO TURN, at that exact moment, G-d introduced us to Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, who introduced us to the Torah. We discovered the Holy Words that had been transmitted to Am Yisroel at Mount Sinai some thirty three hundred years previously. Having tried, like Moses’ Father-in-law, Yisro, practically every lifestyle, we discovered that there is NOTHING of value or substance in this world except the words emanating from the Creator, Blessed be His Name!
NOTHING!
Our Nation is now searching for G-d and His Torah. Some may be running away, but the miracle is how many are running TOWARD Mount Sinai! Am Yisroel is stronger than we may realize. In the midst of the current upheavals, there is a tidal wave of Jews returning to the Holy Torah. This is miraculous, because these holy Jews are fighting to return to G-d with mighty strength! They are filled with fervor and enthusiasm, even innocence, if such a thing is possible in this polluted world.
After the Torah Umesorah Conference, we remained in South Florida another week for a series of speaking programs. We found there an amazing world of teshuva! For example, we spoke to a group of students from Florida International University, under the inspired leadership of Rabbi Saj W. Freiberg. Rabbi Freiberg, who operates with great self-sacrifice and devotion on three college campuses, snatching Jewish children from the clutches of a “fun-loving” college environment, enveloping them in the life-giving protection of Torah. "His students love the Torah he teaches them; he has even made several shidduchim."
“Stand fast and see the salvation … that G-d will perform for you today.”
Last year, when I told our story at Yeshiva Ohr Sameach in Yerushalayim, twin brothers named Dani and Yoni Kirshblum attended the program. They were exhilarated by our story and their new-found love of Torah. In Miami we met again, only this time they brought their parents, and the love of Torah is uplifting their entire family.
In Boca Raton, a young man named Jonathan Rausch has organized, under the guidance of the Boca Kollel, a weekly “lunch and learn” program at his insurance office, for businessmen whom he brings together for the purpose of inspiring them in Torah. Many shared with us meaningful personal stories after our program.
In Aventura, Rabbi Nosson Spero, educated at Ner Yisroel and at choshuve yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel, has brought his great storehouse of Torah knowledge to a community hungry for growth. One of his talmidim, Aitan Zacharin, impressed us with his diligence and seriousness. Aitan was shocked when he saw many of his Jewish friends pursuing empty and dangerous lifestyles. Under the guidance of Rabbi Spero, he is not only learning and living Torah himself, not only bringing it to his family, but he is organizing a program to reach out to his friends. And I am sure he will succeed!
The very seriousness of the world situation is calling out to us. You would think that we would collapse under the immense weight of our challenges, but instead we are listening to Moses’ ageless advice, “Stand fast and see the salvation … that G-d will perform for you today.”
We are indeed marching once again to Mount Sinai, where “He will let us hear, in His compassion, for a second time … ‘I am Hashem your G-d”(Shabbos Mussaf Kedusha). In our hearts, we know with absolute certainty that G-d will rescue us from this Exile. Whatever chaotic events may occur around us, we know that, because we say, “You Hashem are my refuge,” therefore, “no evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. He will charge His angels for you, to protect you in all your ways….” (Psalm 91)
Soon, G-d will speak to us once again as He did at Har Sinai, “in the presence of all the living,” and the world will be renewed with the coming of Moshiach ben Dovid, may we see it soon in our days!
We were in Florida during the Haitian earthquake. On that day, I actually felt a slight tremor and thought to myself, “I wonder what an earthquake feels like.” The next day I heard the news.
My chavrusa, the Talmid chacham and tzaddik Rabbi Moshe Grossman, pointed out a Rashi in that week’s Parsha, Vaeira, which cites the Prophet, “‘I have destroyed nations; their towers have been laid desolate. [I have destroyed their streets without passersby; their cities have become ruins.] … I thought you would fear Me, that you would learn a lesson.’” (Zephaniah 3:6-7)
Everything in this world is a lesson for us.
Recently I heard that the magnetic North Pole is moving. Can you imagine that? Apparently, it’s nothing new, but the movement is speeding up, and soon, according to experts, the magnetic pole will migrate westward from North America to Siberia. That “constant” by which we steer, that “totally dependable, solid point” from which we take our direction, is not at all stable!
Last week, in Parshas Beshalach, we read a striking sentence. The Children of Israel are caught in a seemingly hopeless position between the Egyptians and the Sea. What does Moshe Rabbeinu say to them? “Do not fear. Stand fast and see the salvation … that [G-d] will perform for you today…. G-d will do battle for you, and you shall remain silent.” (Shemos 14:13-14)
This, my friends, is advice for us in this shaky world.
“Stand fast and see the salvation … that G-d will perform for you today.”
My wife and I spoke recently at the Annual Presidents’ Conference of Torah Umesorah. The heads of Torah institutions from across the American continent were gathered for one purpose: their determination to “stand fast” and even flourish, despite the mighty forces which seem to be shaking the very foundations of our world. Why? Because our very essence is to fulfill our role as a “kingdom of kohanim and a holy nation!” (Shemos 19:6) We are endeavoring to fulfill the words of the Prophet, “‘My spirit that is upon you and My words that I have placed in your mouth shall not be withdrawn from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,’ said G-d, ‘from this moment and forever.’” (Isaiah 59:20-21).
In this week’s Parsha we receive the Torah. As you may know, I grew up without one atom of Torah in my life. For thirty long years I tried to run away from G-d, but I discovered that each path I tried led nowhere! Along the way, I met my wife, and since then our journey has been taken together. When every other path had failed, when there was NO OTHER PLACE TO TURN, at that exact moment, G-d introduced us to Rebbetzin Esther Jungreis, who introduced us to the Torah. We discovered the Holy Words that had been transmitted to Am Yisroel at Mount Sinai some thirty three hundred years previously. Having tried, like Moses’ Father-in-law, Yisro, practically every lifestyle, we discovered that there is NOTHING of value or substance in this world except the words emanating from the Creator, Blessed be His Name!
NOTHING!
Our Nation is now searching for G-d and His Torah. Some may be running away, but the miracle is how many are running TOWARD Mount Sinai! Am Yisroel is stronger than we may realize. In the midst of the current upheavals, there is a tidal wave of Jews returning to the Holy Torah. This is miraculous, because these holy Jews are fighting to return to G-d with mighty strength! They are filled with fervor and enthusiasm, even innocence, if such a thing is possible in this polluted world.
After the Torah Umesorah Conference, we remained in South Florida another week for a series of speaking programs. We found there an amazing world of teshuva! For example, we spoke to a group of students from Florida International University, under the inspired leadership of Rabbi Saj W. Freiberg. Rabbi Freiberg, who operates with great self-sacrifice and devotion on three college campuses, snatching Jewish children from the clutches of a “fun-loving” college environment, enveloping them in the life-giving protection of Torah. "His students love the Torah he teaches them; he has even made several shidduchim."
“Stand fast and see the salvation … that G-d will perform for you today.”
Last year, when I told our story at Yeshiva Ohr Sameach in Yerushalayim, twin brothers named Dani and Yoni Kirshblum attended the program. They were exhilarated by our story and their new-found love of Torah. In Miami we met again, only this time they brought their parents, and the love of Torah is uplifting their entire family.
In Boca Raton, a young man named Jonathan Rausch has organized, under the guidance of the Boca Kollel, a weekly “lunch and learn” program at his insurance office, for businessmen whom he brings together for the purpose of inspiring them in Torah. Many shared with us meaningful personal stories after our program.
In Aventura, Rabbi Nosson Spero, educated at Ner Yisroel and at choshuve yeshivos in Eretz Yisroel, has brought his great storehouse of Torah knowledge to a community hungry for growth. One of his talmidim, Aitan Zacharin, impressed us with his diligence and seriousness. Aitan was shocked when he saw many of his Jewish friends pursuing empty and dangerous lifestyles. Under the guidance of Rabbi Spero, he is not only learning and living Torah himself, not only bringing it to his family, but he is organizing a program to reach out to his friends. And I am sure he will succeed!
The very seriousness of the world situation is calling out to us. You would think that we would collapse under the immense weight of our challenges, but instead we are listening to Moses’ ageless advice, “Stand fast and see the salvation … that G-d will perform for you today.”
We are indeed marching once again to Mount Sinai, where “He will let us hear, in His compassion, for a second time … ‘I am Hashem your G-d”(Shabbos Mussaf Kedusha). In our hearts, we know with absolute certainty that G-d will rescue us from this Exile. Whatever chaotic events may occur around us, we know that, because we say, “You Hashem are my refuge,” therefore, “no evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. He will charge His angels for you, to protect you in all your ways….” (Psalm 91)
Soon, G-d will speak to us once again as He did at Har Sinai, “in the presence of all the living,” and the world will be renewed with the coming of Moshiach ben Dovid, may we see it soon in our days!
